Overcoming Public Speaking Fears

If the idea of public speaking fills you with trepidation and severe anxiety, it might help you to know that you are not alone. According to numerous studies and surveys, people generally fear public speaking even more than death or dreaded diseases.

According to Dr Michael Telch of the Laboratory for the Study of Anxiety Disorders at the University of Texas’s Psychology Department, more than 15 percent of Americans suffer from dramatic public speaking fears. These are so bad, he says that “people have had to turn down jobs, and certainly students have dropped classes because of it.”

The good news is that there are ways that you can manage public speaking anxiety and mask these fears from your audience, and even build the confidence which will conquer your fears altogether.

The first thing you should remember is that fear is natural. The second is that fear can be overcome with positive thoughts. Thirdly, the more you practice, the easier it will get.

A great lesson can be learned from the many people who have undergone extreme life experiences of one kind or another, and then subsequently became highly successful motivational speakers. These people were able to transform their own profound experience into a lifetime mission, sharing that experience and giving hope and inspiration to others. Better still, most make a good living from public speaking. It is doubtful that many of them recognized their inner ability to speak in public prior to this. Rather, it is what they have learned about themselves, and their power to overcome the worst odds life could deal, that has given them the will to deliver and share publicly.

So you’re not a motivational speaker and you haven’t had a life-changing experience. But you can plug into the inherent enthusiasm and positivity of whatever you do know and like. If you focus on positivity, then you will immediately feel more comfortable and at ease. If you start to feel at ease, your audience will start to relax too.

If you are a naturally shy person, you don’t have to pretend to be an extrovert when you talk in public. In fact many introverted people make great public speakers. Instead of standing up and acting — pretending to be confident and brave — be true to yourself. You have something to say, and those who have invited you to share this information value whatever this is.

It will also help if you use good public speaking techniques, like:

  • being organized and knowing what you are going to say,
  • rehearsing until you’re confident that you know what you want to say — even if it comes out differently on the actual day,
  • breathing deeply and relaxing before you start talking (this is relevant even if you want to ask a question from the audience,
  • making eye contact with people in your audience,
  • concentrating on your body language and avoiding things that will antagonize your audience (like folding your arms or keeping your hands in your pockets),
  • ignoring mistakes you make during your speech, and
  • ultimately, remaining confident and positive throughout.

Remember that the most nerve-wracking part of any public speaking assignment is the anticipation before it starts. It’s the same for anything. Athletes often feel nervous before they go into action too. But, more importantly, realize that this anxious anticipation is also the source of the excitement and focus that lead to a powerful and dynamic speech. It’s energy that can be channeled into positive use. In fact, without it, your performance would be lacking one of its most essential ingredients! Many seasoned professional speakers experience this before going on stage, and know that working with it is one of the secrets to their success.

So be prepared, focus, do your best, and your success will be certain.